Fastenable three-dimensional puzzle pieces



L.- ADELsoHN 3,523,384

FASTENABLE THREE-DIMENSIONAL PUZZLE PIECES Filed Dec. 15. 1967 INVENTOR,[0a/.r img .fof/M ATTORNEYS United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 46-25 2Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention is directed to novelthree-dimensional puzzles, which comprise a plurality of puzzle members,each of said puzzle members being associatingly adapted to be detachablyengageable with one another, wherein one puzzle member is provided withat least a triad of prongs, said triad being detachably engageable witha triad of bores associatingly provided on another puzzle member. Eachtriadic prong is angularly inwardly disposed and each triadic bore isnon-angularly disposed being in vertical relationship to each of saidprongs. Each of said bores has a purality of spaced annular enlargementstherealong and each of said prongs -has a plurality of associatedannular beads provided therealong, said beads being adapted to seat rmlyin the associated spaced annular enlargements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates generally to puzzles and more particularly to three-dimensionalpuzzles Whose individual members are fastenable.

Description of the prior art Puzzle games are of course well known. Inthe ilat, essentially one dimensional variety, the individual members ofthe puzzle are each associatingly carved so that when the variousmembers are joined together a scene of some sort will emerge, or aphotograph, or a ship, or the like. Three-dimensional puzzle games arealso known, such as for example, when various blocks are assembled, eachblock containing a letter on a face or faces thereof, the object of thegame being to form words having high point values. Childrens blockscontaining letters and gures are another example of such threedimensional puzzles; or, similarly, a toy house, or object, cut intovarious configurations, so that when correctly joined it will form thedesired object. However, it is a serious disadvantage in all thesethree-dimensional puzzle games or toys that when the individual piecesare assembled together, they are easily jarred apart since there isnothing to hold them together, other than gravity.

It would, therefore, be of tremendous advantage if three-dimensionalpuzzle games could be provided which would not jar apart during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, among one of the principalobjectives of the invention to provide three-dimensional puzzle pieceswhich are adapted to be fastened together during use but will readilycome apart when the play or game is over.

In accordance with the present invention, novel fastenable,three-dimensional puzzle members are provided Which are eachassociatingly adapted to be detachably engageable with one another. Thisis accomplished by providing at least one triad of prongs on one puzzlemember which triad is adapted to be associatingly and detachablyreceived by triad of bores on another puzzle member. The novel puzzlemembers are molded of any suitable ICC plastic commercially available,such as Bakelite, Lucite, polytetrauoroethylene, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TH-E DRAWING The invention will be hereinafter morefully described Iwith reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a puzzle member adapted according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a top planview of another puzzle member adapted according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a fragmentedview, in cross-section, showing a pair of puzzle members detachablyjoined together.

FIG. 6 is a view in cross-section of yet another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view, in detached relationship, of a puzzle toyadapted according to the invention.

FIG. 8 shows the toy of FIG. 7 in attached relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the iigures ofthe drawing, FIG. 1 depicts a puzzle member 10, which is shapedsubstantially cubically, such as toy block or a word block would be,however, it is to be understood that the cubic form is merelyillustrative and not intended to limit the invention to any particularshape puzzle piece, as FIGS. 7 and 8 will demonstrate. In at least oneface 12 of member 10, and integrally emerging therefrom, is provided atriad of prongs 14. Each triadic prong 14 emerges from a corner of whatwould be an equilateral triangle if each prong 14, at its base, wereconnected by an imaginary straight line, and the resulting imaginaryequilateral triangle would be in an approximate central location in face12 of member 10. The prongs 14 extend upwardly from face |12 and areangularly disposed towards one another, such that an imaginary linedrawn from the end of each prong would intersect at some point above theplane of face 12. The angular disposition X is not of any critical size,it being critical only that the prongs 14 converge towards each other(for a reason to be described), however, preferably angle X is aboutEach of said prongs is preferably serrated along its length as at 20,and tapers at its upper most end to a cone 22. In the embodiment asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 another like triad of prongs 14 is provided onopposing face 26 of member 10, however, it is to be understood that thisis not necessary, since, as will be seen, only one triad of prongs willalso be workable e.g. a puzzle end piece.

FIGS. 3 and 4 define another puzzle member 30 which is associatinglyadapted to detachably engage member 10. This is accomplished byproviding a triad of bores 32 which are associatingly disposed in member30, as that the cones 22 of prongs 14 are in substantial registrytherewith when face 12 is brought in face to face relationship withbores 32 emerging on face 40 of member 30; member 30 also beingcubically formed as is member 10. Each triadic bore 32, however, is notangularly disposed, as are prongs 14 and instead extends a perenpdicularrelationship through member 30, that is perpendicular to faces 40 and 42of member 30, emerging at each end therefrom. The walls of bores 32 arepreferably serrated as at 44, so that when prongs 14 are inserted intobores 32, said bores being of slightly larger diameter than said prongsso that the prongs may be concentrically received therein, as shown inFIG. 5, the puzzle members 10 and 30 are resultingly detachably,tightly, serratingly engaged, prongs 14 (it will be recalled) alongbeing serrated as at 20. It will be noted that when members 10 and 30are so engaged, that is when prongs 14 are inserted into bores 32, andfaces 12 and 40` are in smooth abutting relationship, that a juncture oftwo puzzle pieces has been accomplished which will resist theiraccidental detachment by jarring, as in the prior art. It is also to benoted that by virtue of the fact that prongs 14 are angularly disposedand bores 32 are not, that the aforementioned juncture is even moretightly accomplished, the prongs 14 resistingly yielding to theperpendicular conformity of bores 32.

FIG. 6 describes yet another embodiment of the invention wherein apuzzle member 50 is provided with both triadic prongs 14 and triadicbores 32, prongs 14 emerging from faces 52 and 54, and bores 32extending from face 56 to face 58 through puzzle member 50. Thus puzzlemember 50 is adapted to both receive other prongs 14 and engage otherbores 32 on other similarly adapted puzzle pieces.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the invention as applied to a puzzle suitablefor young children. Therein is shown a puzzle comprising 4 equal parts60, 62, 64 and `66, suitably decorated, so that when they are detachablyjoined they will unite to form an oval 70 having a smiling face paintedthereon. Parts 60 and 66 are provided with prongs 14 on their fiatsurfaces 61 and 63 and 65 and 67, respectively, while parts 62 and 64are provided with associatingly adapted and disposed bores 32 fordetachably receiving prongs 14. Parts 60` aand 62 have an eye paintedthereon, while parts 64 and 66, each have onehalf of a smiling mouthpainted thereon; each part also has one-quarter of a round nose alsopainted thereon, so that when all the prongs 14 are engaged in all thebores 32 in proper fashion, a funny face 72 is formed (FIG. 8) on anoval shaped head 70. This type of puzzle is not only amusing to youngchildren, but it also aids in their motor development. Bores 32, in thispuzzle need not extend throughout the respective part, but need only bedeep enough to receive prongs 14 so that the whole will result in asubstantially smooth oval. It is also clear that the prongs and boresmay be varied from part to part so that for example bores and prongs maybe provided on the same part, as described for FIG. 6.

Having thus described the invention as applied to a specic embodimentthereof, it is to be understood that various changes may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopethereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Three-dimensional puzzles comprising a plurality of puzzle members,each of said puzzle members being associatingly adapted to be detachablyengageable with one another wherein one puzzle member is provided withat least a triad of prongs, said triad being detachably engageable witha triad of bores associatingly provided On another puzzle member,wherein each triadic prong is angularly inwardly disposed, wherein eachtriadic bore is non-angularly disposed being in vertical relationship toeach of said prongs, and wherein each of said bores has a a plurality ofspaced annular enlargements therealong and each of said prongs has aplurality of associated annular beads provided therealong, said beadsbeing adapted to seat firmly in the associated spaced annularenlargements.

2. Three-dimensional puzzles comprising a plurality of puzzle membersformed of a resilient material, each of said puzzle members beingassociatingly adapted to be detachably engageable with one anotherwherein one puzzle member is provided with at least a triad of prongs,said triad being detachably engageable with a triad of boresassociatingly provided on another puzzle member, wherein each triadicprong is angularly inwardly disposed, wherein each triadic bore isnon-angularly disposed being in vertical relationship to each of saidprongs, and wherein each of said bores has a plurality of spaced annularenlargements therealong and each of said prongs has a plurality ofassociated annular beads provided therealong, said beads being adaptedto seat firmly in the associated spaced annular enlargements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 610,5 77 9/ 1898 Baldwin.1,460,700 7/1923 Butlington 273-156 1,958,508 5/1934 Audet 46-252,808,681 10/ 1957 Arenstein 46-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,116 3 1931 GreatBritain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 46-22; 273-157

